Connecticut – School Custodians Say ‘No’ to Aramark

Dump Aramark! – Members of Connecticut Council 4 demonstrate in April against plans by the New Haven Public Schools to continue using privateer Aramark to provide maintenance and food services.

New Haven, Connecticut

Dump Aramark! – Members of Connecticut Council 4 demonstrate in April against plans by the New Haven Public Schools to continue using privateer Aramark to provide maintenance and food services.

Photo Credit: Stan Godlewski

About 200 protesters — members of Connecticut Council 4 and their supporters — demanded at an April rally that the New Haven public school system stop contracting out food service and facility maintenance work.

School administrators later agreed not to renew the food service contract that privateer Aramark held through August. The company, which provided services to the school district for the past 12 years, has a separate maintenance contract that remains in effect.

Council 4 members want the city to bring maintenance work in-house. “We don’t need an overpaid middle man to lead us down the path of destruction,” says Robert Montuori, president of Local 287, which represents about 200 New Haven school custodians.

“The math is tragically simple,” says Council 4 Exec. Dir. Sal Luciano, who is also an International vice president. “High cost plus poor service equals Aramark. New Haven students and the community deserve better.”

Addressing an enthusiastic throng of protesters gathered at City Hall, Pres. Gerald W. McEntee was equally blunt: “We want to tell the aldermen and the mayor that it is their job to fire Aramark and get them out of town.” He also announced a $20,000 contribution toward Council 4’s anti-Aramark campaign.

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